§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent on the fabric of the Erskine bridge in each year since it opened.
Lord James Douglas HamiltonThe information is set out in the table. The amounts prior to 1989 relate to the whole Erskine complex including approach roads, Dalnottar interchange, toll booths and administration buildings. Expenditure on the cable stay bridge could be separated only at disproportionate cost.
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Year Maintenance costs 1971–72 52,458 1972–73 88,274 1973–74 100,037 1974–75 121,185 1975–76 1456,192 1976–77 1681,976 1977–78 1934,462 1978–79 1817,467 1979–80 1814,800 1980–81 1772,151 1981–82 11,564,378 1982–83 12,051,090 1983–84 1966,915 1984–85 1267,609 1985–86 1264,615 1986–87 1278,810 1987–88 289,941 1988–89 269,878 1989–90 40,409 1990–91 110,446 1991–92 67,157 1992–93 188,812 1993–94 134,310 1994–95 25,370,000 1Includes £7,341,322 for strengthening superstructure to comply with new design rules for steel box bridges. 2Includes £5,100,000 for major but routine waterproofing and resurfacing which are currently requiring traffic management on the bridge.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the projected expenditure on Erskine bridge for each of the next five years.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonIn addition to routine maintenance expenditure each year of £100,000 to £150,000, repainting the outside of the steel boxes supporting the carriageways will be required at an estimated cost of £2 million during the next five years. Expenditure on routine and programmed inspections and assessments will be made in line with standard practice for long-span bridges in the United Kingdom.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made of the condition of the Erskine and Kingston bridges and the likely disruptive effects of repairs to these bridges over the coming year.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonErskine bridge is structurally sound and only works to maintain it in good condition have been identified. These can be carried out without full closure of the bridge but may from time to time require traffic management and lane closures.
Kingston bridge in Glasgow is the responsibility of Strathclyde regional council and information on this structure can be obtained from its director of roads.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make it his policy that Erskine bridge will not be closed because of repairs this year.
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonGiven present knowledge of the bridge and the works planned, there will be no need to close the bridge in the foreseeable future.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the early findings of the current principal inspection being carried out on Erskine bridge.
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§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonThe consulting engineers carrying out the principal inspection are in general very pleased with the condition of the bridge. The final report has not yet been received. In practical terms, the inspection has confirmed that the original protective coatings to the cable stays should be replaced next year as expected after over 20 years in service.
§ Mr. WorthingtonTo ask the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make the findings of the present inspection being carried out on Erskine bridge publicly available
§ Lord James Douglas-HamiltonRoutine technical documents are not generally published, but there is no reason why interested parties should not have access to the principal inspection report. The report is expected towards the end of the year.